Spending the majority of my waking life in Lycra means I like to wear kit that feels and looks good. Pella's Mortirolo jersey ticks both of those boxes plus a few more to boot.

With temperatures recently nudging 30°C (guaranteed it will be cold and raining when you read this) I've been searching through my wardrobe each morning looking for the most breathable jerseys. The short sleeved Mortirolo is made from Coolmax fabric which is designed to take moisture from your skin and spread it across the fabric speeding up the rate at which it dries, so it's been one of the jerseys to grab.

While on the move the fabric works well, removing heat and sweat to the atmosphere thanks to the wind passing over you and you certainly do feel cool and pretty dry. As soon as you stop the Mortirolo can soon get overwhelmed as your body heat increases though the speed at which it dries once you move off again is impressive. It has to be said it suffers no more than most other jerseys in this respect.

The fabric is very soft too, feeling very comfortable against the skin should you prefer not wear a baselayer at all times. The elasticated cuffs and hem keep it in position. The neck is deep, keeping annoying draughts out, and the full length zip also has material covers top and bottom to protect from skin irritation.

Round the back you get the standard three deep pockets which are strong enough to be loaded up without too much sag and an extra zipped one for phones/ keys and the like. The dropped tail keeps your lower back covered when you are in the drops and thanks to the elasticity of the material it doesn't bunch at the front either.

The cut is slim without being too close which is down to some well-shaped tailored panels rather than using a tighter material. The sizing is pretty generous considering it's Italian-made and my usual size medium was a good fit.

The Pella is priced at £65 which I think seems a fair price when you take the cut and performance into account. For that kind of money I expect quality and the Mortirolo certainly has that with the seams neatly stitched and zips running smoothly.

The size range goes from small to XX-large so should fit most and thanks to the cut should still look flattering on larger riders and for those of you that like a bit of colour on your kit you won't be disappointed here. The bright blue is accompanied by a red version and a fluoro yellow which all share the white side and underarm panels. It is also available in a more stealthy black.

Overall the Pella Mortirolo is a very well made piece of kit that combines plenty of Italian style without being extravagant or garish. The colours are bright and thanks to that nicely shaped cut it really does feel good on. The price is good for the quality and looks and the fact it's made in Italy is a nice touch.

Verdict

Really well made with close attention to detail that easily justifies the price; looks just as good as it feels

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pella Mortirolo Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey

Size tested: Medium, Blue

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Mortirolo is part of Pella's Pure made in Italy range and is designed for fast riding without being an extremely close fit. I like the tailored shape and attention to detail with the likes of the neck and stomach protectors at each end of the zip.

Very neatly put together and finished to a high standard. You can feel the quality as you put the jersey on.

Rate the product for performance:

9/10

Removes moisture at a very quick rate thanks to the Coolmax material and the pockets are a good size and strong enough to carry some decent weight.

Rate the product for durability:

8/10

A quality feel and standing up to plenty of wear and tear at the moment.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:

9/10

Lovely and soft material against the skin with a good sized cut that will flatter most body shapes.

Rate the product for value:

8/10

You're getting what you pay for, if not a little more. £65 is a good price for the quality and durability.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Really good in the heat and would also make a good under-layer in the winter thanks to its wicking properties.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and the styling.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The Pella Mortirolo offers solid construction and performance with plenty of style and the overall scores comes down to the fact that this is backed up by a superb fit and feeling of quality. It's a sensible price to for an Italian jersey.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 35 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course! My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Here's how we roll at road.cc: every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a real insight into whether it works or not. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective, and we strive to ensure that all opinions expressed are backed up by facts, but reviews are always a reviewer's informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores. It reflects both a product's function and value. Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad. Here's what they mean: